Malkangiri: Oil prepared from mahua seeds, locally known as Tola, is a minor forest produce but often boosts the economy of a tribal family in this district.
However, tribals say they have to sell the oil at throwaway prices in the local markets as the government has not fixed a minimum support price (MSP) for the produce.
“As the government has not fixed any price for the oil, we don’t get much by selling it if you compare the hard work that goes into the processing of the seeds to extract oil,” said Gupteswar Khil, Rameswar Khemudu and Krushna Goleri of Bandhaguda village demanding an MSP for the produce.
Mahua trees are seen in every part of the district. The tribals mainly collect flowers and fruits to supplement their earnings. Most of the young men and women are engaged in collecting mahua fruits in the month of May.
Later they dry them up and separate the seeds from its skin. The tribals manage to extract oil from the seeds by following the traditional method of milling. The extracted oil is kept to be used all through the year.
Almost all tribals of the district use the oil for multiple purposes. While it is used for day to day cooking in every household, the oil is used for preparation of a variety of delicacies during festivals. Besides, many use it for body massages to improve their skin texture.
Though the oil is little bitter in taste, they are accustomed to it since it has been used by them for generations and more importantly they don’t have to buy oil from the market, said a tribal Dambarudhar Dalai.
To meet their monetary needs, many tribal families sell the surplus oil in the market after keeping enough for their own requirements.
However, they don’t earn much in the absence of a marketing facilities and fixation of MSP at the government level, some villagers rued. PNN